絵本には,比喩的な語彙の使用が多い。それは文学的な表現であるだけでなく,対象者である幼児の内容理解を促進するために用いる場合もある。その際,対象者であるこどもの認識,知識,語彙にあわせた表現の配慮がなされる。絵本を作る側にいる者として,その比喩をどのような理解しているのかを,「ちいさなもの」「おおきなもの」を表現した絵本テキストを読み聞かせ,その大きさを幼児に行動で示させることで,比喩的表現の理解程度を検証した。Figurative speech is often used in children's picture books. This is not merely a literary device but can also serve to facilitate understanding of the content for the intended audience of children readers. In suchcases, the child readers' knowledge, experience and vocabulary must be carefully considered when selectingappropriate language. From the perspective of a creator of children's picture books, a study was conducted to determine the ways in which children understand such figurative speech by reading them a text containingthe expressions "small things" and "large things", then having them act out their perceptions of size withtheir bodies